Let Harry Do It

"After all," the witness pleaded, "it is we little guys, we consumers, who ultimately pay all of the taxes. Lots of us small fellows are becoming more & more alarmed about the increasing rate at which our Federal Government is spending our money. We have heard that almost all who come before you do so with hat in hand and tin cup held out . . . We come to strengthen the hand of those of you in both houses of the Congress who are concerned with the mounting cost of Government."

The witness was wiry, bespectacled Ignatius D. Taubeneck, history teacher in the Bronxville (N.Y.) High School, who had turned up before a Senate appropriations sub-committee to present an economy petition signed by 2,000 citizens of suburban Westchester County, which borders New York City. Ex-Mayor Frederick C. McLaughlin of White Plains took it from there. Said McLaughlin:

"We are very apprehensive [about the] mammoth bureaucracy which has been created by our legislative representatives, some of whom are talking economy and voting consistently for unnecessary spending."

The Senators shifted uneasily. Like the Westchester delegates, the Senate had a petition of its own, signed by 57 Senators of both parties. It urged passage of a resolution to direct the President to cut 5 to 10% off appropriations finally voted by Congress. But such a let-Harry-do-it approach was just what ex-Mayor McLaughlin was talking about. Despite all the loud congressional forensics, Congress seemed unwilling or unable to practice what it preached. It had no help from the President, who had called for a record budget (see box), though traditionally it is his responsibility to preserve the nation's financial health.

"The country would practically leap up and kiss us if we force some cuts," argued

Kansas' aged (77) Republican Clyde Reed, who rounded up the Republican signatures on the bi-partisan petition. But, admitted Arkansas' John McClellan, who gathered the Democratic signatures "Congress is made up of human beings . . ."

Scornfully, Majority Leader Scott Lucas rejected the whole idea of passing the buck to the White House. Scoffed Lucas: "We should have the courage to reduce appropriations if we desire to do so."

On its record so far, Congress seemed sadly lacking in both courage and decision. Heading into the last week of the fiscal year, Washington was facing its worst appropriations logjam in years. Of the eleven major money bills which will keep the Federal Government running after June 30, only one had yet passed Harry Truman's desk. It was Congress' own outsize budget for the next fiscal year.

While the Senate wrestled with its sense of economy, two members of the House came to blows over the Administration's housing bill. Illinois' white-haired, 83-year-old Adolph Sabath, who has more years of service (42) than any other member, was waiting to start things off. Up strode Georgia's blustering Gene Cox to demand ten minutes speaking time for the opposition.

Sabath shook his head: seven minutes was all he could spare. Before anyone realized what was up, "Goober" Cox called Sabath a "liar," swung at him with his right hand, clouted him on the side of the head and sent his glasses spinning.

Sabath countered with a short left to the jaw, then a short right cross with real steam behind it. New York's 200-lb. James Delaney stepped between them and stopped the battle before the bewildered sergeant at arms could parade the mace, the traditional symbol of law & order in the House.

Afterwards, Winner Sabath and Loser Cox grinned happily for the photographers. "I have a genuine affection for Adolph," beamed Cox. "I really love him." "I'm sorry too," said Sabath. "Gene is really a capable gentleman."

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